Survey Says...

With the help of Survey Monkey we've created a Survey .

The Purpose, to improve the Market as we go into our Second Year! 

Appreciate your Feedback so we can Give Back to what YOU want from YOUR Certified Farmers Market!

Click HERE to participate in the Survey!

Option to enter to win 4 Family Dodger Game Tickets at the end of the Survey!

Thank you!!

Dubious Farmers Tour

It's important that our Farmers represent their certification they hold. After David Karp's Los Angeles Times Friday online article July 2nd, he suggested there are a few dubious farmers in our market. Monday on a 400+ mile trek in the Jeep (off roading at times) to find out the facts about these alleged dubious farmers.  It was a great trip where I met Farmers, their Families, a 3rd Generation Family Owned & Operated butcher serving the high desert & a Hungarian Sausage Maker which I'm still enjoying because of course I had to take some home.  More to this post on Friday after my second visit.  

As Farmers Market Managers we rely on Certification issued by the department of Agriculture.  As important as that Certification is, we as Market Managers work together to assure our Farmers bringing what they Farm.

Thank You David Karp for the Write Up!

It was Awsome to see the Review of the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market & Our Farmers In the LOS ANGELES TIMES!!!!

Mark Ridley-Thomas Visit's the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market

Pleased and honored that Mark Ridley-Thomas visited the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market last Saturday July 3rd.  Amazed that he found the time to come by.  President of the Del Aire Neighborhood Association John Koppelman, "Big John", as Mark Ridley-Thomas call's him, walked the market introducing the Farmers & Food Vendors that make up  our market.  It was exactly one year ago that Mr Ridley-Thomas visited. Pleased to show him the progress thanks to the community we support!

Celebrating!

A Celebration of the first Anniversary of the Farmers Market brought out the community who's

support & patronage is why the market has made it through a rollar coaster year. The market is a success and trending positively over last year's sales.  With new vendors & farmers at the height of production it's the place to be on Saturday Mornings. 

Appreciation to:
John Koppelman (the Farmers Market was his idea afterall)
Ema Koppelman (you know what they say about every great man, there's a great woman)
Sean Walsh (President of the HollyGlen Association)
Robyn Walsh (Supporter, Gardener & Baker)
Danny Juarez (Hawthorne City Councilman)
Don Harris(Our Insurance Man)
Harley & Bill (Wiseburn Watch)

Sarah Nitsos (Anza Elementary School & Customer)
Da Vinci Charter School
Mary Lou Weiss (Torrance & Hermosa Farmers Markets)
Greta Dunlop (Beverly Hills & So. Pasadena Farmers Market)
Natalie Dushon (Manhattan Beach Farmers Market)Paul - El Segundo Driving Museum
Douglas Kraus (City of Hawthorne)
Dr Alice
Lisa Mead (Volunteer Nutritionist)

Ibitsiam (LA County Nutrition Program)
Gold's Gym
Our Famers (they are the Heart of the Farmers Market)
Our Food Vendors (you are what makes us different)
and

Each & Every Customer!!!

Anza Elementary School FAST FOOD Challenge

Last week we went to the Anza Elementary School with the FAST FOOD Challenge during lunches.  Students that had FAST FOOD (ex: apples, oranges, celery etc.) in their lunch and ate them of course became FAST FOOD Challengers and entered to win Dodger Game Tickets!

Today we returned for their end of year assembly to award the winners!

What a great event and great way to send the message of healthy food choices!

Here are the winners!

Much Thanks to Mrs Nitsos!!!

The FAST FOOD Challenge Debut!

The FAST FOOD ChallengeTM Debuted at the Hawthorne Health Fair & 5K.  I'm still counting the raffle tickets but I'm over 385 and estimate another 100 maybe.  Is that unbelievable or what?  So cool.  We'll be announcing and awarding the Raffle winners of the DODGER Game Tickets this Saturday!!! Come out to the Hawthorne Del Aire Farmers Market home of the Original Fast Food and play with food - yep come out on Saturday and hit the FAST FOOD target with an orange and enter to win 4 Tickets to a DODGER GAME! Awesome!!!

Go Grill Go!!

	Go Grilling  Vegetables and Fruit   Grilling gives fruits and veggies a smoky-sweet flavor, and it's amazingly easy. Here's what you need to know to master the technique. Watch the video
Ingredients	Vegetable oil Vegetables or fruit to be grilled Salt and pepper
Equipment	Metal grill brush Soft cloth for oiling grill grates Nonstick grill foil (per recipe) Hot pads Long barbecue fork & tongs Slotted spatula Basting brush Cutting board Knife Kitchen fork Prep & serving platters
Step-by-Step	1. Mise en Place Preheat grill on HIGH 10 min (if using charcoal grill, HIGH is barely gray coals with ash). Clean grill with wire brush. Using soft cloth, coat grill grate lightly with vegetable oil. A faint smoke indicates grill is ready. To prevent flare-ups, make sure oil doesn’t drip into flames. Cut produce into roughly equal pieces. (Blanch slow-cooking veggies, such as artichokes, to shorten grilling time.) Drizzle produce to lightly coat with basting oil. Adjust heat (MEDIUM or LOW usually best). 2. Sear Sear skin on all sides. 3. Cook Grill, turning every 1-2 min, using tongs to keep produce intact. Check doneness by piercing with paring knife — knife should enter easily with no resistance. 4. Finish Transfer to clean platter. Look for lightly browned (not charred), tender produce with grill marks. Season.

Use this chart as a general guide for preparing and grilling times.
The easiest way to tell if vegetables or fruits are cooked is to pierce them with a kitchen knife or fork. If the utensil goes in easliy, the items are done.

	Preparation	Grilling Time
Artichokes	Trim tough outer petals, halve lengthwise; blanch until tender	8 to 10 min.
Asparagus	Trim tough end	6 to 8 min.
Corn	Soak ears in water 20 to 30 min (leave in husks)	30 to 40 min.
Eggplant	Slice 3/4 inch thick	8 to 10 min.
Fennel (Anise)	Remove leaves; cut bulb into quarters	10 to 12 min.
Leeks	Halve lengthwise; rinse well	10 to 12 min.
Garlic	Wrap whole bulb in foil; place over indirect heat	30 to 40 min.
Mushrooms	Leave whole	6 to 8 min.
Onions	Peel; cut n halves or quarters; skewer	15 to 20 min.
Peppers	Cut in halves or quarters; remove seeds	10 to 12 min.
Potatoes (white, yams)	Slive 1/2 inch thick	15 to 20 min.
Squash, summer	Halve lengthwise or slice 1 inch and skewer	8 to 10 min.
Tomatoes	Skewer quarters and cherry tomatoes; halve plum tomatoes lengthwise	3 to 5 min.